In 'M1 Tank Platoon' you're leading a platoon of four mighty M1 Abrams main battle tanks through various missions. Your objectives range from defending important positions to meeting engagements or frontal assaults. You're up against Red Army troops who have invaded into Western Europe.
You, being a rich venetian trader, do what you are better at, sending ships and caravans to commerce, buying at low prices for selling at higher ones wherever the best deals are and fight for the power against the other merchant families.
I must admit I'm a sucker for classic horror movies and novels. I'm also one of these people who cheer for the bad guys and abhore the wimpy do-gooders. For all those with similarly sick minds, the 80s produced the computer game of our dreams: Mad Doctor.
Mad TV's success virtually begged for a sequel. Rainbow Arts announced Mad Burger, a fast-food chain simulator. Ralph Stock, designer of the first part, had left the company, though, and he was working in Mad News which was published by Ikarion. Mad Burger never made it, but two years later, Mad TV 2 (the only 'official' sequel) appeared - and it sucked. This review is about Mad News, however. The game which should probably be called the only rightful successor of the original game.
This is one of the few german games which got much international attention. And it really deserved it. Basically, it's a pretty tipically german genre: a business sim. But in contrast to lame tries like Winzer this one is really fun! The reasons for this are simple.
You may smile ironically about the graphics of C64 games. You may even consider them ugly. I won't protest much. In fact, I have to confess I don't value the 'multimedia' capabilities of this computer too highly myself. I can understand everyone who appreciates these extremely blocky looks, but I've been 'socialized' by other machines mainly. One thing is undeniable, though: The C64 had and still has the most creative 'user scene'! Even today, new programs are being written by the followers of this small computer, some even released commercially.
A safe way for a game to become successful back in the 'golden days' was to get good reviews in the magazines dealing with computer games. Most companies went with simple bribery (even though you never believed this of course, eh?).
There are only so many excuses for 3D shooters. Magic Carpet at least has a tiny bit of originality: You're a sorcerer flying around on a magic carpet (oh, really?) trying to take over the world. This works by collecting mana and storing it in your fortress. Once you've collected enough, you can proceed to the next level.
Light off, spot on for the coolest boy in town: Bitmap Kid! (Yes, that's his real name.)
Don't ask for any background story here, that's completely irrelevant. You get a Jump 'n Run here with some uncommon ideas. The first and main thing about this is the versatility of your main weapon. Now... don't ask me what that is supposed to be. As it looks the Bitmap Kid is able to throw little whirlwinds out of his pocket. According to the time you keep the fire button pressed this whirlwind can also be quite big. The biggest variant will often turn monsters into some sort of pointdelivering goodie. That variant also has another ability: If you step on it it will hurl you up into the air - in that mode you can get higher than with normal jumping and also you can bounce through monsters. Downside is a certain lack of control over your movement. For some tasks you need it though.
Meta robot KLP-2 from Quazatron is back: This time, the reactors of eight satellites have to be shut down. Of course, these satellites are full of robots to destroy as well.
KLP-2 moves (or rather floats) over the three-dimensional platforms which now have a fixed distinction into screens (circumventing the problem of the rather slow scrolling). Again, it's all looking and moving very smoothly - technically, this is yet another step forward from the already high standard the predecessor set.